DAIRY EXPORTS BY AIR PREDICTED

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 9

DAIRY EXPORTS BY AIR PREDICTED

(Trom Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, July 11. A Pacific criss-erossed with the route-lines of competing freight and passenger air services is not far away, say members of a large delegation from United Airlines now touring New Zealand. Within five years the bulk of New Zealand’s meat and dairy produce could be carried to world markets by airfreighter, they say. The advantage would be that it could be delivered fresh and ready to compete on even terms with the produce of other countries. Mr G. E. Keck, president of United Airlines, who heads the deputation, is making no move during the present tour for reciprocal landing rights

or other favours. The tour is merely exploratory. It is expected to be at least three years before United comes forward with firm plans to cover the area. By that time, large jet freighters now on the drawingboards will be proven, and the cost of passenger and freight flying will have adjusted itself downwards. United Airlines, the largest in the United States, is one of several applicants to the United States Civil Aeronautics Board for permission to introduce Pacific services.

If this is granted, it would still be New Zealand’s prerogative to decide whether to permit additional United States companies to have landing rights. Although there is likely to be a three-year breathing space, some future planning has been recommended already by the Civil Aviation Department. One point already known to departmental officers is that airport buildings designed now could be out of date in five years’ time. This has an important bearing on the official reluctance to go ahead with the design and construction of permanent buildings at Mangere and Rongotai, both of which are working with makeshift accommodation. “If certain air developments now proceeding—and they include very large, fast aircraft—continue with the same promise, everything we have on the ground in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland will have to be redesigned,” said an official. “Imagine having to process plane-loads of 300 or more passengers at a time through out present accommodation. At the moment we simply couldn’t do it, but within a comparatively short time we may have to, or lose our tourist industry.”